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The Sutton Garden Club, founded in 1997, is dedicated to the following objectives: to encourage interest in all phases of home gardening, promote better horticultural practices and use the acquired skills and knowledge of the membership to benefit the town and residents through community projects and to promote a spirit of good will.

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Cool, crisp mornings, beautiful blue skies and vibrant, colorful leaves all herald in the Fall season. Here's a simple way to preserve those colorful leaves and create a wreath that will last for months.

On a cool evening, cut about a dozen or so small branches at their peak of color choosing those that have a lot of leaves. This needs to be done before there's been a frost. Once cut, hammer the cut end to open up the vascular system.

﻿Fill a deep pail with half a gallon of warm water. Test the pH level. It needs to be between 3 and 4. If it's too high, adjust the level by using drops of lemon juice. If too low, add powdered lime. Then add 17 ounces of glycerin and 4-5 drops of surfectant ( available at garden shops).

Put the cut branches into the bucket and place it away from sunlight. It'll take 3-5 days for the branches to absorb the solution (magnolia leaves take 3-6 weeks). The leaves will feel supple and are now ready for your project.

To make a wreath, pick leaves from branches and bind small bunches together with florist wire. Place the bunch on a wreath form and attach by wrapping florist wire around the form. Overlap the bunches as you go until the wreath form is completely covered.

Note: The leaf colors will change when they absorb the glycerin water. Yellows become more vibrant while reds and orange turn a ruddy brown. Some leaves will work better than others. Experiment to find what works for you.